Measure would prohibit unfunded mandates

Legislation has cleared a House committee which would prohibit enacting further unfunded education mandates.

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By SNS

The Shawnee News-Star

By SNS

Posted Feb. 20, 2013 at 11:26 AM
Updated Feb 20, 2013 at 11:29 AM

By SNS

Posted Feb. 20, 2013 at 11:26 AM
Updated Feb 20, 2013 at 11:29 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY

Legislation that would end the practice of forcing unfunded education mandates on local schools recently passed unanimously out of the House Appropriations and Budget Common Education Committee.

House Bill 1100, by state Rep. Arthur Hulbert, would prohibit the legislature from enacting any mandate on local education boards unless sufficient funding was provided to cover the costs associated with the law.

“When I was running for office, one of the most common complaints I heard was that our schools were being overwhelmed by unfunded mandates,” said Rep. Hulbert, R-Ft. Gibson.

“In my opinion, we need to promote local control of our schools and decrease the number of government mandates. I am very pleased this legislation has cleared the first hurdle toward protecting our schools, though I am certain the fight will intensify as the bill moves forward.”

HB 1100 passed the committee on a bipartisan 8-0 vote. It now proceeds to the House Calendar Committee, which will determine if the measure will be heard by the full body of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.